OVER THE COUNTER: For women, understanding the body gets better with age

By Gary Kracoff and John Walczyk/Daily News Correspondents

Tuesday

Mar 27, 2018 at 8:50 PMMar 27, 2018 at 8:50 PM

It’s funny the double standard that exists when discussing aging, sex and what happens to reproductive organs when we get older. When it’s about men, talking about intimacy and middle age (and beyond) seems acceptable, but this is not always so when it comes to women.

Don’t believe us? Consider how many times you’ve heard celebrity or TV doctors talk about topics such as testosterone therapy and prostate problems and even erectile dysfunction. But when’s the last time you heard anyone on TV talk about pelvic floor prolapse or vulvodynia? Have you even heard the recent news about the controversy of vaginal mesh implants?

When it comes to women’s health, what you don’t know – and what you may not want to discuss with your physician – could hurt you.

When women have babies and age, their bodies go through many changes that can affect their reproductive organs and hormonal balance. Unfortunately, these changes can come with some painful, and sometimes embarrassing, symptoms. Fortunately, many of these symptoms can be prevented, managed and relieved through a combination of exercises, diet, quitting smoking, supplements and, in some cases, medical therapies.

Typically, the single most life-altering event a women can encounter is pregnancy and delivering a baby. In just nine months, the female body will go through dramatic, disruptive, and, we should say, quite wonderful changes that can last a lifetime.

Many of the conditions women find annoying during and right after pregnancy go away over time, such as swollen and tender breasts, weight gain and mood swings. But several won’t. Stretch marks may last and so will differences in breast shape. Most difficult will likely be problems with holding urine.

But many of these issues – and several others including hot flashes and dryness – will come eventually for women who don’t have kids, too, as their bodies age.

We have described below some common changes and conditions women can expect as they age, and potential remedies.

Pelvic floor disorders: These include spasms and prolapse, and can be quite disruptive. Pelvic floor problems typically happen after childbirth, menopause or following a hysterectomy. The condition occurs when the muscles and ligaments supporting pelvic organs become weakened and lower in the body, sometimes causing a sensation of pressure and a loss of bladder control.

Remedy: Start learning and performing pelvic floor exercises. Kegels are the most common exercise used to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that help keep the uterus, bladder, small intestine and rectum in place. For a simple guide, try the following: First pretend you have to urinate and then react as if you are trying to hold it. Relax and tighten, feeling the muscles you use to stop from going to the bathroom squeeze and lift. Try tightening for 10 seconds and relaxing, repeating several times a day. We should note that for people with pelvic floor spasms, Kegel exercises may not be recommended and special physical therapy to relax muscles may be more effective. Pelvic floor disorders can also be treated with a device called a weighted vaginal cone, which can also be effective for preventing or reducing incontinence. It may take a few months until you notice greater control of your bladder, so don’t get discouraged – and you will find this increased strength helps relieve some of the issues associated with this condition as well as vulvodynia and even dryness. Another option is muscle relaxant suppositories, which can offer a more targeted approach. They also have a reduced systemic absorption leading to a lower risk of sedation.

Vaginal dryness: While this may sound taboo to talk about, it’s completely natural and is typically due to a drop in the hormone estrogen, which can occur from, among other reasons, childbirth, breast-feeding, or having had menopause. Yet the condition is uncomfortable and makes sex painful.

Vulvodynia: This chronic and rarely talked about disorder can be as upsetting as it is painful. It causes the opening of the vagina to burn, hurt or feel irritated, especially when sitting or having sex.

Remedy: Unfortunately, this condition may require prescription medicines, such as muscle relaxant suppositories or creams, low-dose hormone gels, or estrogen therapy. Talk with your doctor about the best options, but anything that can be applied topically tends to have fewer side effects than drugs taken orally.

Hot flashes: These are often a topic of jokes about getting old, but there’s little funny about them. Hot flashes occur during menopause, and can cause warmth throughout the upper body, red or blotchy skin, sweating, and rapid heartbeat.

Remedy: For extreme hot flashes, estrogen therapy is effective, but there are ways to possibly lessen the symptoms. First, keep a healthy body weight. Also, avoid spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol, or any other foods or drinks that trigger hot flashes. Progesterone creams may also offer relief, as well as some herbal and natural remedies such as chasteberry and black cohosh.

Talk to your doctor about any of these conditions to find the best course of action for you. Remember that with a little effort, lifestyle changes and perhaps medication, you can take control of your own body.

Gary Kracoff has a degree in naturopathic medicine and is a registered pharmacist and John Walczyk is a compounding pharmacist at Johnson Compounding & Wellness in Waltham, Mass. For more information, visit www.naturalcompounder.com. Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can e-mail gary@naturalcompounder.com or call 781-893-3870.